Styptic applicator with file

ABSTRACT

A styptic powder applicator and file for use with pets. The applicator is designed to be integrated with the container and have a funnel-like shape in order to handle a styptic powder in an easier fashion. The container further has a file attached to a side of the container for the removal of burrs left after clipping a pet&#39;s nails. This invention provides a more efficient structure for grooming a pet by incorporating a file for removing burrs with the styptic applicator for staunching the flow of blood from a “quicked” nail.

This is a divisional of prior application Ser. No. 10/757,109 filed onJan. 14, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of pet grooming. Specifically theinvention relates to the field of nail clipping and grooming, and inparticular to a styptic powder dispenser and file.

2. Description of the Related Technology

To correctly accomplish the task of trimming a pet's nails agroomer/owner needs to cut and file the nail. When clipping, there issignificant hazard of “quicking” the nail and causing the animal tobleed. It is recommended that a styptic material be applied to the nailto stop the bleeding. Depending on the severity of the cut, blood losscan lead to serious harm, including the death of the pet. Currentlystyptics are sold in several material compositions: powder, gel, pencil,and liquid. Powder is the most common form and is usually sold incylindrical containers.

Current styptics are difficult and messy to apply. The styptic tends toget all over the pet owner and the pet. A struggling pet makes itimportant to be able to supply the styptic quickly and efficiently. Inaddition, there is the risk of contamination of the reservoir of stypticmaterial if the bleeding nail is introduced directly to the storedmaterial. There is therefore a need in the field for an improved stypticapplicator.

A second issue in the grooming process is the removal of burrs afternail clipping. Pet nails should be filed after clipping to remove burrs,which can cause damage to carpets, furniture and clothing. Currently,files are sold separately requiring the user to locate the file afterclipping. This causes frustration when someone has misplaced a file, andcannot find it immediately. There is therefore a need in the field toprovide a single device capable of dispensing and applying styptic andfiling a pet's nails that makes grooming more convenient and efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide field toprovide a single device capable of dispensing and applying styptic andfiling a pet's nails that makes grooming more convenient and efficient.

In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, astyptic applicator for pets according to a first aspect of the inventionincludes a container with a chamber for filling with a styptic; aremovable cap for the container; an applicator device for applying thestyptic; and a filing device.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a styptic applicator forpets includes storing structure for holding a styptic; applicationstructure for applying the styptic; covering structure for sealing thestoring structure; and filing structure for filing a nail.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a styptic applicator forpets includes a container with a chamber for filling with a styptic; aremovable cap for the container; an applicator device for applying thestyptic wherein the applicator device has a concave shape in order tohold the styptic.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a styptic applicator forpets includes a container with a chamber for filling with a styptic; anda filing device.

These and various other advantages and features of novelty thatcharacterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a betterunderstanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtainedby its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form afurther part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, inwhich there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a styptic applicator that is constructedaccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the styptic applicator that isdepicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the styptic applicator that is depicted inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the styptic applicator that isdepicted in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the styptic applicator that isdepicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a depiction of two side views of the styptic applicatorshowing the stopper with a cross-sectional view of the cap when showingthe styptic container in the closed position;

FIG. 7 is a depiction of two side views of the styptic applicatorshowing the extended handle with a cross-sectional view of the cap whenshowing the styptic container in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The styptic applicator is preferably employed in the care of pets, andin particular the grooming of pets. When an owner is grooming an animal,such as a dog, typically the nails need to be clipped. This presents acertain hazard to the animal. If the clipping occurs to close to the“quick” the nail will begin to bleed. This is due to a vein in the nail.This bleeding needs to be staunched as soon as possible, and typically astyptic device will be employed. Additionally, while clipping the nailburrs can be created. These burrs can snag carpet and wreck furniture;therefore it is important to be able to file away these burrs. Both the“quicking” of the nail and the creation of burrs occur at roughly thesame time and therefore the necessity of having both a styptic deviceand a file all in one becomes paramount.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designatecorresponding structure throughout the views, FIG. 1 shows an overviewof a styptic applicator 10 that is constructed according to a preferredembodiment of the invention.

Styptic applicator 10 has a container 16, a cap 28 and a file 14. Fromthe drawing it can be seen that cap 28 further has a concave structure20 located on the top portion of the cap 28. This concave structure 20is where a styptic powder is placed, and makes up part of the applicatordevice 12. Cap 28 also has a depression 18 so that a user can easilygrab hold of the cap 28. The container includes sides 26 and bottom 30.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a file 14 is attached to a side 26.Furthermore, container 16 has a chamber 24 that stores the stypticpowder for future use.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the styptic applicator 10. Inparticular this cross-section shows the chamber 24 that is located onthe interior of the container 16. The container 16 is triangular inshape in order to match the shape of the cap 28. However, it is possibleto make the container in any variety of shapes, such a cylindricalshape, in order to maximize the volume of powder to be stored.

In the preferred embodiment, the chamber 24 is filled with a stypticpowder. However it is to be understood that the styptic couldalternatively be a powder, gel, pencil, or liquid. The styptic powdermay also contain a desiccant for keeping the powder from caking and topermit the powder to pour easily into the concave structure 20. In thepreferred embodiment, the top portion of the container 16 has a lockingrim to click the cap 28 into place, and there is a keying mechanism sothat the cap 28 turns in one direction.

When a person wishes to use the styptic applicator 10, the cap 28 willbe removed from the container 16. This will permit access to the chamber24. A person can then pour the styptic powder into the concave structure20 that is located at the top portion of the cap 28. The cap 28 can thenbe placed back on the container 16 with the powder inside the concavestructure 20, and the entire structure can then be used to apply thestyptic to the pet. Alternatively, the cap 28 can remain separate fromthe container 16 during the application of the styptic. One benefit ofthis is that the reservoir of styptic material within the container 16will not be directly exposed to the bleeding animal during application,thereby providing a measure of security against the styptic materialbecoming contaminated by the animal. The cap 28 may also be removedafter use so that it may be washed.

The cap 28 as shown in FIG. 1 is sized to fit the container 16 so thatthe cap 28 is flush with side 26. FIG. 1, also shows the cap 28 having adepression 18 for a person's finger to grasp the cap 28. Alternatively,instead of a depression 18, the cap 28 can have an elastomeric materialto make grasping it easier. The figures show the cap 28 being triangularin shape, however like the container 16, the shape of the cap 28 may bethat of any one of a variety of shapes.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the cap 28 may have anextended handle 44 that a person can use to hold the applicator whileapplying the styptic. In the preferred embodiment the container 16 actsas the handle after the cap 28 is placed back on the container 16. In analternative embodiment, the extended handle 44 can extend down from thecap 28 into the chamber 24 when the cap 28 is placed on the container16. When the extended handle 44 is placed within the chamber 24 it isconcealed from view. This provides a compact design while furtherremoving the step of placing the cap 28 back onto the container 16before applying the styptic. A person merely has to grasp the extendedhandle 44 in order to apply the styptic. In another embodiment, thehandle can be part of a sleeve mechanism that extends into container 16.This gives the person who is using the applicator a larger handle tograsp when applying the styptic, while in additionally eliminating thestep of replacing the cap 28 back on the container 16 before using theapplicator device 12.

Cap 28 contains the applicator device 12. The applicator device 12 isthat part of the cap 28 that comprises the concave structure 20 and thespout 22. In the preferred embodiment the applicator device 12 is sizedin such a way as to permit easy application of the styptic to a pet. Asshown in FIG. 2, the concave structure 20 has an angled slope. Theangled slope helps to form the spout 22. FIG. 3 shows a top down view ofthe cap 28, and shape of the concave structure 20 in the preferredembodiment. FIG. 5 shows the spout 22 from a side view. FIG. 4 shows thespout 22 from forward view. The conical, or bowl-like, shape of theconcave structure 20 helps to compress the styptic into the end of thehollow nail from which blood emerges. Furthermore, the shape of theconcave structure 20 and the spout 22 makes it easier for the unusedportion of the styptic powder to be placed back in the chamber 24, afterapplication to the nail is finished. The shape also prevents the powderfrom spilling all over the pet and its owner. Alternatively, having acylindrical shape for the applicator device 12 will permit a widerstream.

Filing device 14 can be seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 6, and FIG.7. In the preferred embodiment, the filing device extends along a side26 of the styptic applicator 10. The filing device 14 can be used whileattached to side 26 with the remainder of the container 16 being used asa handle mechanism. A person uses the filing device 14 to file downburrs on the nail of a pet left after clipping, or simply to file thepet's nails.

The filing device 14 can be a nail file attached to a side 26.Alternatively, the filing device 14 can be attached to other locationson the styptic applicator 10. The filing device 14 can be attached tothe cap 28, or other areas at the top of the styptic applicator 10.Furthermore, the filing device 14 can be attached to the bottom 30 ofthe container 16. In an alternative embodiment wherein there is a sleevemechanism, the filing device 14 can be attached to an exterior of thehandle. As shown in FIG. 6, the filing device 14 is removable from thecontainer 16. In the preferred embodiment wherein the filing device 14is preferably removable with respect to the container 16, this requiresthere to be some sort of attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanismcan be that of a snapping mechanism, or a sticky material may be placedon the styptic applicator 10, in order to place the file. Alternatively,some sort of hook and loop mechanism can be employed. By having thefiling device 14 be removable from the styptic applicator, it can thenbe replaced when it has been worn down. Alternatively the filing device14 can be made integral with the container 16, and therefore wouldcomprise one of the sides 26 of the container 16.

The filing device 14 can be made of any number of materials includingemery board material, metal, sandpaper, etc. In a preferred embodimentthe filing device 14 will have a herringbone crosshatch. There can alsobe different coarse and fine areas on the filing device 14.

FIG. 6, shows an optional stopper 42 for use with applicator 10. Thestopper 42 is sized to fit within the top opening of the container 16and able to fit within the bottom opening of the cap 28. The stopper 42provides an extra barrier for preventing accidental spillage of thestyptic upon removal of the cap 28 from the container 16.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. A styptic applicator for pets comprising: a container with a chamberthat is filled with a styptic material; a removable cap for saidcontainer; an applicator device for applying the styptic materialwherein said applicator device has a concave shape in order to hold saidstyptic.
 2. A styptic applicator according to claim 1, wherein said capis integral with said applicator device.
 3. A styptic applicatoraccording to claim 1, wherein said concave shape is triangular.
 4. Astyptic applicator according to claim 1, wherein said concave shape isslanted to form a funnel.
 5. A styptic applicator according to claim 1,wherein said applicator device has a spout.
 6. A styptic applicatoraccording to claim 1, wherein said applicator device has a stopper.